Microscope.



H. -N. OTT.

MICROSCOPE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 12. m4.

Patented Apl 17,1917

UNITED S ATE FATE HARVEY N. OTT, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIG NOR TOSPENCER LENS COMPANY, OF

BUFFALO, NEW- YORK.

MICROSCOPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1'7, 1917.

Application filed September 12, 1914. Serial No. 861,386.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARVEY N. O'r'r, a citizen of the United States,residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Microscopes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to means for removably securinga condenser or other similarly placed removable substage appliance ofamicroscope in place on the substage or support therefor.

In microscopes as commonly constructed, the condenser is removably heldbeneath the stage on a support or substage, this support being providedwith a split ring in which the condenser is removably retained byfrictional engagement with the ring, and'into and out of which thecondenser is adapted to be slipped from below. Other removable substageappliances are also adapted to be similarly held in this retaining ring.This construction is desirable in that the condenser or other appliancecan be readily placed in position and removed, and can be turned to anydesired angle of azimuth on the substage, but it is objectionable sincethe condenser or other appliance, being held in place only by friction,is apt to, and frequently does, work loose and drop out of the retainingring, thus causing much annoyance in the use of the instrument.

The object of this invention is to provide a microscope'with desirableand inexpensive securing means for the condenser or other removableappliance, which will positively and securely hold the condenser orappliance in place and enable it to be quickly and easily placedinposition-and-removed, and turned to any desired angle-on the support.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, on a reduced scale, of a microscopeprovided with means embodying the invention for securing a condenser orother removable appliance in place.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the substage and appliances carriedthereby.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the substage with the condenser removed andbelow the same.

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view in line i4, Fig. 2.

A, Fig. 1 represents a microscope stand of ordinary constructionprovided with the usual substage or support B on which the condenser andother usual substage appliances are supported below the stage C. Drepresents the condenser, which, as usual, is removably retained beneaththe upper iris diaphragm E in a ring F on the substage or support B.This ring can be, as shown in the drawings, a separate ring secured by aflange f and screws f on the substage and depending through an openingin the substage, or it can be secured on or formed with the substage orsupport in any suitable way. The condenser is adapted to be insertedinto and removed from this retaining ring from below in the usual way.

The retaining ring F is provided with a sprlng catch G which is adaptedto engage a shoulder or part on the periphery of the shell or casing ofthe condenser to secure the condenser in the ring. The catch G, shown,is formed by slitting the ring F circumferentially at one side andbending the spring tongue or strip thus formed so that it is adaptedtoproject into a circumferential groove H in the shell or casing of thecondenser or appliance D and thereby secure the condenser or appliancein the ring. A circumferential groove H is preferably provided intheco-ndenser or appliance D for the engagement of the spring catch, asthis permits the condenser or appliance to be turned to. any desiredposition in the ring and to be placed in the ringwithout having to befirst turned to a particular position for inserting it; The'condenser orappliance could, however, be provided with one or more shoulders orparts of any suitable sort for the engagement of the catch.

The free end of the spring tongue G is bent outwardly-to form-a handle 9for re leasing the catch when removing the condenser or appliance D fromthe ring F, and a stop I of any suitablesort is preferably provided onthe substage or support B to prevent the tongue from'being bentoutwardly far enough to render it inoperative. The catch can also bemanipulated by this handle wh en inserting the condenser or appliance D,if desired, but this is not nec essary, since the condenser can beinserted without independently manipulating the catch by tilting thecondenser to a slight inclination when inserting it. A beveled orrounded shoulder is on the condenser above the catch groove H andadapted to engage the lower edge of the catch and force it outwardly,also enables the condenser to be shoved up into place in the retainingring without independently actuating the catch. An obvious reversal ofthis would be to bevel the lower edge of the spring tongue G.

Preferably the retaining ring is split as usual, and, as shown at Z, toadapt it to contract upon and frictionally hold the condenser orappliance D so that the condenser or appliance will be held more firmlyin the ring and retained by friction in any angular position to which itmay be turned in the ring F.

The construction described provides a securing device by which theremovable condenser or appliance is positively secured in place on itssupport without necessitating any additional part on the instrument andwithout appreciably increasing the cost of manufacture of theinstrument.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a microscope, the combination of a substage provided with anopening for a substage appliance and with a retaining ring in saidopening, a substage appliance adapted to be inserted upwardly into andremoved from said retaining ring, and a spring catch on one of saidparts and adapted to spring into engagement with a shoulder extendingcircumferentially around the other part for positively but releasablysecuring said applian'ce in said retaining ring and permitting rotaryadjustment of the appliance in the ring.

2. In a microscope, the combination of a substage provided with anopening for a substage appliance and with a retaining ring substantiallyconcentric with said opening, a substage appliance adapted to beinserted upwardly into and removed from said retaining ring, and aspring catch on said retaining ring adapted to engage a circumferontialshoulder on said appliance for releasably securing said appliance insaid retaining ring.

3. In a microscope, the combination of a substage provided with anopening for a removable substage appliance and with a retaining ring,and a substage appliance adapted to be inserted upwardly into andremoved from said retaining ring, said retaining ring having a springtongue formed by an integral portion of the circumferential wall of saidring and extending circumferentially thereof and adapted to engage acircumferential shoulder on said appliance for releasably securing saidappliance in said. retaining ring.

4. In a microscope, the combination of a substage provided with anopening for a re movable substage appliance and with a retaining ring insaid opening, and a substagc appliance adapted to be inserted upwardlyinto and removed from said retaining ring, said retaining ring having anintegral spring tongue extending circumferentially thereof and adaptedto engage a circumferential shoulder on said appliance for releasablysecuring said appliance in said retaining ring, said spring tongue beingprovided with an outwardly bent end portion for manipulating it.

5. In a microscope, the combination of a substage provided with anopening for a substage appliance and with an expansible retaining ringfor said appliance, a substage appliance adapted to be inserted upwardlyinto said retaining ring, and a spring catch on said retaining ringadapted to engage a circumferential shoulder on said appliance forreleasably retaining said appliance in said retaining ring, said catchpermitting said appliance to be turned to different positions in saidretaining ring, and said retaining ring acting by frictional engagementWth said appliance to hold it in the position to which it is turned;

Witness my hand, this 11th day of September, 1914.

HARVEY N. OIT. Witnesses:

C. M. ASH, L. M. POTTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of latents, Washington, D. G.

